Dahlia plant named ‘Fidahcali’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Dahlia  plant named ‘Fidahcali’, characterized by its compact, upright, somewhat outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; freely branching growth habit; freely flowering habit; large decorative inflorescences with red and yellow bi-colored ray florets; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Dahlia hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Fidahcali’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Dahliaplant, botanically known as Dahlia hybrida, and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘Fidahcali’.

The new Dahlia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Hillegom, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new pot-type Dahlia cultivars thathave a freely branching and flowering habit, attractive ray floretcoloration and good postproduction longevity.

The new Dahlia plant originated from an open-pollination in Hillegom,The Netherlands of an unnamed selection of Dahlia hybrida, not patented,as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection of Dahliahybrida as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Dahlia was discoveredand selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within theprogeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled environment inHillegom, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Dahlia plant by cuttings in a controlledenvironment in Hillegom, The Netherlands since 2006, has shown that theunique features of this new Dahlia plant are stable and reproduced trueto type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Dahlia have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Fidahcali’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Fidahcali’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofDahlia:

-   -   1. Compact, upright, somewhat outwardly spreading and mounded        plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching growth habit.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Decorative inflorescences with red and yellow bi-colored ray        florets.    -   5. Good postproduction longevity.

Compared to plants of the female parent selection, plants of the newDahlia differ primarily in ray floret coloration and plant shape.

Plants of the new Dahlia can be compared to plants of Dahlia hybrida‘Lisa Dark Pink’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,780. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in De Lier, The Netherlands, plantsof the new Dahlia differed from plants of ‘Lisa Dark Pink’ primarily inray floret color as plants of ‘Lisa Dark Pink’ had dark pink-coloredcolored ray florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of thenew Dahlia plant.

The photograph shows the colors as true as it is reasonably possible toobtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographmay differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailedbotanical description which accurately describe the colors of the newDahlia plant. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Fidahcali’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and the following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown in a glass-covered greenhouse in DeLier, The Netherlands during the late summer and autumn and underconditions and practices which approximate those generally used incommercial Dahlia production. During the production of the plants, dayand night temperatures averaged 18° C. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages for typical flowering plants. Plants were about 10weeks old when the photograph and description were taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, Fifth Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Dahlia hybrida ‘Fidahcali’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed selection of Dahlia            hybrida, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Dahlia            hybrida, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About six days at            temperatures of about 22° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About eight days at            temperatures of about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 12 days            at temperatures of about 22° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 16 days            at temperatures of about 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; tuber development has not            been observed.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form/growth habit.—Upright, somewhat outwardly            spreading and mounded plant form; broad inverted triangle;            freely basal branching with about five primary branches each            with numerous secondary branches and inflorescences held            above the foliage on strong peduncles; bushy and dense            habit; moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 17 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 19 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 15 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm.            Internode length: About 1.5 cm to 2.5 cm. Aspect: Erect to            somewhat outwardly spreading. Strength: Moderately strong.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A to 144B.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Leaves opposite; leaves may be single or            compound with three or five leaflets.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Leaflet length.—About 6.5 cm.        -   Leaflet width.—About 5 cm.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Slightly pubescent.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A; venation,            close to 138B to 138C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface:            Close to 138B; venation, close to 138B.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 3 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and            lower surfaces: Close to 144B.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance/arrangement.—Rotate decorative inflorescence form            with ray florets forming acropetally on a receptacle;            inflorescences positioned above the foliage on strong            peduncles; inflorescences face upright to outwardly; freely            flowering habit, about 29 inflorescences develop per plant.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Time to flower.—Plants flower continuously from late spring            through the autumn in The Netherlands; plants begin            flowering about six to seven weeks after planting.        -   Post-production longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good            substance for about two weeks on the plant; inflorescences            persistent.        -   Inflorescence bud.—Height: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Shape: Globular, flattened. Color: Close to N144B.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 6.5 cm. Depth (height):            About 2 cm.        -   Ray florets.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Width: About 1.5 cm.            Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Cuneate. Aspect:            Initially upright to eventually roughly perpendicular to the            peduncle. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: When opening, upper surface: More intense            and darker than 44A. When opening, lower surface: Towards            the apex, close to 1A; towards the base, close to 44A. Fully            opened, upper surface: Towards the apex, close to 1A;            towards the base, close to 44A; color does not fade with            development. Fully opened, lower surface: Towards the apex,            close to 1A; towards the base, close to 43A to 43B; color            does not fade with development.        -   Disc florets.—None observed.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: About seven arranged            in a single whorl. Length: About 1.1 cm. Width: About 4 mm.            Shape: Obovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 137A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4.5 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Aspect: Mostly erect. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: Close to 144B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity per floret: About            ten. Filament length: About 1 mm Filament color: Close to            6C. Anther shape: Narrowly elliptic. Anther length: About 2            mm Anther color: Close to 17A. Pollen amount: Moderate.            Pollen color: Close to N25B. Gynoecium: Not observed.            Seeds/fruits: Seed and fruit development have not been            observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Dahlia have not been    shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Dahlia.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Dahlia have exhibited good    tolerance to rain and wind and have been observed to tolerate    temperatures from about 0° C. to about 35° C.

1. A new and distinct Dahlia plant named ‘Fidahcali’ as illustrated and described. 